The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-19

Startling Figures fran a Prison Superin
tendent.

Godey's Lady's Book.
Out of an examination of 204 inebriate women
L have found that 1913 began their drinking by
the use of beer thirty seven by drinking whisky
las punch at first usually, twenty began with
wine, eight with gin and eleven could not re-
member what beverage was first used These
young girls, mill and shop girls largely, began
by going so-called refreshments saloon
with their friends and the debutante usually
began by sipping little tonic (mads of hops
sugar and water, charged with carbonic acid gas
and colored with burnt sugart beer soon followed,
and soon rioting, other kinds of intoxicants,
recklessness and crime; and what was an inno-
cent, foolish girl yesterday is to-day branded
criminal, and all for glass of beer. Alas how
many ruined lives have scent
Beer was also the beverage which older ine-
briate women used to entce the younger ones to
the signal for the pitcher of beer to be sent for,
and little coaxing and urging would result in
steps were then easy. Beer is the trap which
the drum kard maker sets for the feet of the un-
wary. And he usually makes sure of his prey
because of it A glass of raw whisky would
have presented but slight attraction to these
overworked. half-fed girls, had it been offered
them at first. After that sleeping devil, the ap-
petite for intoxicants. had been aroused by beer.
it became altogether q different matter, and at
last, in many cases, chloroform peppermint
oil was added to the drink of these maddened
creatures. SO furious lad the appetite become
for something stronger.
It may be of interest to note that out of the
204 nebriate women, 126 had been guilty of
other crimes. and yet in but sixteen instances
did the first commitment of crime antedate the
habit of drinking.
OF the beverages first used, while in but
thirty cases it began with whisky. in 1S7
it had become the favorite beverage Several
hopeless drunkards, far gone toward insanity,
had never drunk any other intoxIcant than
beer.
One hundred and thirty-two were committed
to prison for drunkenness, fifty six for oHenses
against chastity and public order, and sixteen
for crimes against property. Their when
last committed averaged 304 years. Sixty-fve
were between 80 and Al years of age, 40 between
20 and 81 years of age, 81 between 20 and 70
years of age 80 between Is and 81 years OF age.
The remainder were over Al years of age.
Many of the older could not tell how
many sentences they have received, showing the
absolute useiessness of Furnishing these poor
creatures while the temptations are left in their
way.
TO show the effect upon children of inebriate
parentage. l collected the following: OF IL in
ebriate mothers 80 of whom had inebriate hus-
bands. 408 children we're born. OF these 227 per
ished in infancy and early childhood. and of the
survivors many are doomed evidently TO an
early death. In many cases the death of these
children was indirectly due to the inebriety of
the parents, cold, deprivation, &c. Ages:
intoxcants before they were 10 years of age; IL
between the ages of and Is: "a between IA and
81: 81 between 20 and &C. 33 between % and 81:
10 between 80 and Il: 8 between DO and 81
Average age, 184 years. More than one-half
had formed habits of lntemperance before they
were 81 years OF age, and more than one-third at
the giddy age of from Is to 90 inclusive.
One hundred and thirty-two began to drink
socially and with female friends.
Superintendent Woman's Reformatory Prison,
Sherborn. Mass.